Selling Your Junk Car: Out With the Old, In With the New

Every New Year’s Eve brings with it an overwhelming desire to better ourselves and our lives in the following year, and a steadfast resolve to do things differently. One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions among people is to get organized and get rid of things they no longer need: old clothes, old books, old furniture, and even old junk cars.

So how do you know when it’s finally time to get rid of your clunker? First and foremost, if the annual cost of repairing the car exceeds the annual cost of car payments, the smartest move is to ditch the money-guzzler in favor of a more cost-effective option. Another thing to keep in mind is your car’s age and how that may affect repairs.
Unfortunately, hunting for compatible car parts is risky for older vehicles since there’s always the chance that a necessary part will be discontinued, rendering future car repairs expensive or even impossible.

Once the decision is made to get rid of the vehicle, how do you do it? It’s not like you can just leave it out on the curb with the rest of your trash for pickup. After all, with vehicular disposal comes a lot more regulation—not to mention paperwork! Below is a list of the most effective and rewarding methods to dispose of your old car, along with the pros and cons of each.

Dump Your Junk Car

Unfortunately, one of the first things people consider when trying to get rid of their junk car is to take it to the nearest junkyard, but consider the pros and cons.

Pros:

Sending your car to a scrapyard can be a quick solution.

Junkyards will make use of your junk car for scrap metal.

Cons:

Selling your junk car to a junkyard earns you very little money, certainly less than you would garner selling it to a buyer who specializes in junk cars. Most scrapyards will only pay in the low $100’s for a junk car since it’s being labeled as “garbage”.

Getting your old car to the junkyard can be a difficult task, especially if the vehicle doesn’t run anymore. In some cases, junkyards might offer to haul the junk car to their location, but it will cost you.

Trade Your Junk Car In

Almost every car dealership has some sort of trade-in plan for their customers, and trading your old car in for a new or used one benefits both you and the dealership you go to.

Pros:

Trading your junk car in is easy.

What the dealer offers you for your junk car can be used as part of your down-payment against a new car.

Trading in means getting your “new” car the same day and saving a future trip.

Cons:

The dealership decides the trade-in price for your old car, and may have certain conditions depending on the condition and year of your vehicle.

The older your car, the less your trade-in value will be.

You have to purchase a new or used vehicle from the dealership in order to get rid of your old car.

Donate Your Junk Car

Another major New Year’s resolution is to donate more to charitable organizations. Cars are not often donated, and so charities consider them especially valuable since they are worth more than most other donated items.

Pros:

Donating your old vehicle will help someone in need who can’t otherwise afford one.

Donating your junk car could warrant a sizeable tax deduction.

Charities will typically remove the car for you free of charge.

Cons:

Donating a car means you aren’t selling it, so you miss out on the opportunity to obtain a portion of your car’s purchase price back.

A lot of follow-up paperwork is needed after the donation so you have documentation for a proper tax deduction.

Sell Your Junk Car

While it may not be the fastest or simplest option, selling your junk car allows you to set the price yourself and gives you the option to sell in whole or in parts. Ultimately, selling on your own lets you have more control over what happens to the car and what you get in exchange for it.

Pros:

Selling your old car yourself will undoubtedly earn you the largest amount of money; depending on the year, make, and model, you could sell your car for up to $3,000 more when compared to a dealership trade-in.

There are many selling tools at your disposal: websites, mechanic shops, or specialized car buyers.

Most repair shops will pay top dollar for old parts to add to their inventory to keep their customers satisfied.

Selling your old car in parts contributes to the circulation of “outdated” or discontinued parts for others who need them for their own cars.

Cons:

More work is required on your part as compared to the other options mentioned in order to find the right buyer.

A Deal With Appeal! Duvall’s Towing Service Buys Junk Cars!

In addition to providing best-in-class assistance in a wide range of towing services to the Lake Worth, Florida and surrounding areas, Duvall’s Towing Service specializes in purchasing unwanted vehicles. We offer our highest possible price for your old or junk cars, and honor any prices we give over the phone upon arrival. We even pay cash on the spot! If you have a junk car you’d like to part with to start off the New Year, please call us today at 561-432-8488 for a quote or for more information.